StemCell Therapy

The biggest question Im getting asked is around how CBD and medical cannabis may affect contracting or recovering from coronavirus, and about what else we can do to stay well.

People are asking if cannabis and CBD can help buffer the immune system against getting COVID-19 in the first place, and if you do get it, can CBD and cannabis help treat it? What about the possibility that NSAID anti-inflammatory drugs may have a negative effect on the virus once you are infected and wait a minute CBD is an anti-inflammatory too, so what does that mean for CBD?

These are all valid questions and so far, even in terms of the anti-inflammatory drugs and the effect on corona, it is still unclear what the relationship is, if there is one. Many doctors are still recommending sticking to Acetaminophen for the fever for now and avoiding NSAID over the counter drugs until we know more.

As for CBD and cannabis, we dont have any studies showing it has any effect on the coronavirus, although there are some interesting studies on medical cannabis and smoked cannabis use and HIV progression.

On Facebook and social media, many CBD and cannabis advocates are claiming that they boosted their immunity successfully against all viruses using the plant, and recommending others do the same.

As both a cannabis specialist and doctor trained in natural medicine and western medicine, it is important to let people know the facts and be totally honest about what we dont know. Its also critical not to make false claims when we are all understandably a bit scared, and of course want to do everything we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

The miracle cure claims that some members of the natural wellness community can sometimes make, even when well-intentioned, can have harmful effects on peoples behaviour and also tarnish the industry as promoting snake oils.

This effect can distance our more conventional medicine and research colleagues who are not well versed in botanical medicine, and hurt the progress plant medicine has made in recent years in gaining support and credibility through academic research and inquiry, partnering with the research and those physicians open-minded enough to consider them.

Plant medicines like CBD and medical cannabis do so many amazing things that there is no need to stretch the truth or make claims that cannot be backed up, at least not currently.

Probably the best way we can support our immunity is avoiding alcohol, staying active while we stay home (dance parties in the living room anyone?) and taking up a simple relaxation or meditation practice to decrease stress hormones.

If you are into supplementing, you could consider adding some adaptogen mushrooms, along with liposomal glutathione (not a direct immune boost but may help support the liver).

Eating a diet rich in micronutrients, zinc, vitamin C, flavonoids like quercetin (in both cannabis and apples) and getting good sleep are all good things to start now if you havent already.

Melatonin, our sleep hormone made while we sleep can help healthy immune function too. Deep breathing practices and laughter may also have a positive effect on our immune systems too. So, you can feel like you have done something by putting on a funny film and having a good deep belly laugh to get those lungs working while you self-isolate.

Even if you do everything right you may still end up getting coronavirus, but the good news is that most people not in high risk groups will have a mild illness course and recoup at home. Some carriers may not even have any symptoms at all or even know they had it, which is why social distancing is so important, since asymptomatic transmission rates are thought to be quite high with coronavirus.

Dr Dani Gordon MD, CCFP, ABOIM, ABIHMGuest AuthorUK Cannabis Medicine Specialist US Integrative Medicine Consulting & Training for Physicians

Do you want the latest news and updates from Medical Cannabis Network? Click here for your free subscription, and stay connected with us here.

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Expert answers: can cannabis and CBD affect coronavirus? - Health Europa

Shahin Salarvand,1 Simin Hemati,2 Payman Adibi,3 Fariba Taleghani,4 Mohammad Saleki5

1Hepatitis Research Center, Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran; 2Radiotherapy and Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 3Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 4Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 5Department of Sport Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Correspondence: Shahin SalarvandHepatitis Research Center, Community Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, IranTel +989161590560Fax +986633120140Email shsalarvand@lums.ac.ir

Introduction: Healthcare professionals should seek the necessary resources to improve the quality of care. Given the cultural, social, and economic differences, in every health care system, there are increasing needs for the adapted versions of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). This study aimed to introduce an innovative CPG adaptation approach for nurses working in a developing country.Methods: This study is comprised of three sections: a. An extensive systematic search of the literature, b. The adaptation process, c. Interviews, which were held with stakeholders, users and/or the target population. We applied all of the stages of guideline adaptation process according to Adaptation Resource Toolkit, with the integration of the findings of a systematic literature search and a qualitative content analysis in an adolopted new CPG.Results: In this study, we applied a mix of three methods namely adoption, adaptation and development (adolopment) of recommendations to save time, cost, and manpower efficiently. Moreover, we integrated the utilized qualitative research method and literature review with the adolopment approach to develop the recommendations.Conclusion: Given there is a paucity of nursing clinical practice guidelines (NCPGs) in the nursing management of cancer therapy-induced mucositis and to save time and costs, the findings emerging from the adoption, adaptation, and de novo guideline development by a panel of experts and qualitative content analysis (QCA) method were integrated to achieve a more comprehensive nursing practice guideline.

Keywords: guideline adaptation, developing country, nursing

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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An Innovative Approach to Clinical Practice Guideline Adaptation in th | CMAR - Dove Medical Press

Doctors and scientists still have many unanswered questions about the new coronavirus and how it affects our bodies once we are exposed. Washing hands frequently and social distancing are recommended to stop the spread of the virus. But many are asking, is there anything we can do to bolster our immune systems defense to fight off the virus if we come in contact? Are there supplements that might help?

Again, when it comes to the new coronavirus, theres no data right now to answer definitely how one supplement might help the immune system fight off the virus or not. But what microbiologists who do study the immune system know about our bodys defense is that ramping up our immune system to be on high alert or globally boosting it to fight off every and any germ that might be out there is actually a flawed concept, explains Michael N. Starnbach, PhD, a professor of microbiology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Our immune system is designed to recognize things that are foreign in our body and clear those foreign things out of our body, but those cells and responses are finely tuned, says Dr. Starnbach. If the immune system were too active, it would attack our own tissues, which can happen in some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohns disease, he says.

Theres really only evidence that supplements improve immune function in populations that are truly malnourished, which is rarely the case in the United States, according to Starnbach. People can be more susceptible to diseases when they are severely malnourished, but it doesnt mean that replenishing higher-than-necessary amounts of vitamins and nutrients in someone is going to make their immune system work that much better," he says.

Evidence suggests some vitamins and supplements may reduce the likelihood of a respiratory virus or reduce the amount of time a person is sick with a virus, especially if a person is deficient in some way, according to Tod Cooperman, MD, the president and founder of Consumer.Lab.com, a provider of independent test results and information designed to help consumers and healthcare professionals identify the best-quality health and nutrition products. Again, we dont know whether the vitamins and supplements we have evidence for would yield the same effects against the novel coronavirus.

Right now, if youre concerned about catching the coronavirus or any other virus, taking a basic multivitamin every day is a safe way to ensure youre not deficient in any area, says Dr. Cooperman. Eating well, getting good sleep, and exercising will also help keep you as healthy as possible and keep your immune system strong, he says.

RELATED: Coronavirus Shopping List: What to Buy and Skip

Based on research on the effects of zinc against other viruses, theres some suggestion it may help lessen severity of symptoms, so if you start to experience symptoms of a virus, including the new coronavirus, Cooperman suggests sucking on zinc lozenges to coat your throat. But right now, theres no evidence to back that up.

Heres more about what is known about specific vitamins and supplements that may affect viral infections.

RELATED: Coronavirus and Prescription Medications: Should You Stock Up?

Again the available evidence suggests certain supplements may help when it comes to reducing infection or the duration of illness, says Yufang Lin, MD, an integrative medicine doctor at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. But little evidence suggests supplements actually help protect you against catching a pathogen in the first place. And there's no evidence that any supplement is a silver bullet thats going to globally boost your immune response to any and all threats.

RELATED: What You Need to Know About Living With a Compromised Immune System During the COVID-19 Outbreak

And remember, the novel coronavirus is an entirely new threat. There isnt any specific data yet on how particular vitamins or supplements may or may not thwart it, says Dr. Lin. (All the studies referenced below investigate how supplements work against other types of viruses.) We really dont know if they would provide support in fighting off COVID-19 [the disease spread by the novel coronavirus], she says.

Heres what we do know.

Elderberry Theres data that suggests elderberry (taken in teas, lozenges, gummies, or pills with the herb) can reduce flu virus production and help people recover from flu faster, Lin says. A study published in March 2019 in the Journal of Functional Foods found that compounds from elderberries can inhibit the viruss entry and replication in human cells and help strengthen a persons immune response to the virus. There is no really good data for the common cold and elderberry, Lin adds.

RELATED: Cold and Flu: Everything You Need to Know

Zinc does have some data suggesting it can provide support for your immune system and may help you fight off infection in common colds faster, Lin says. A meta-analysis published in the journal JRSM Open in May 2017 found evidence that zinc lozenges can shorten the common cold's duration by over 30 percent. The findings recommended that the lozenges not contain citric acid or salt citrate. [Its an approach] that you can think about taking within the first few days of infection, she adds.

Remember, zinc has not been tested specifically with the new coronavirus, but it has been tested with other viruses, he says. When it comes to other viruses, zinc lozenges work by inhibiting the viruses' activity in the throat, when the infection is just starting to spread, lessening those symptoms. So taking those lozenges soon after you begin experiencing symptoms may help, Cooperman explains. Its fairly safe for a week or two. You want to suck on the lozenges, but not chew, so your throat is continually coated with zinc, he says.

Make sure you follow the instructions on the package and that youre not taking more than the recommended dose, Cooperman adds.

Vitamin C is associated with some benefits for colds, Lin notes. (The common cold is a type of coronavirus.) A meta-analysis of 29 trials including 11,306 people looked at how taking at least 200 milligrams (mg) per day of vitamin C affected risk and management of colds. The study, published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, found that vitamin C didnt reduce the incidence of colds in adults, but it did shorten the duration of colds, by 8 percent. A subgroup of studies in the Cochrane analysis looked at marathon runners, skiers and Army troops doing heavy exercise in very cold conditions and found that supplements of at least 200 mg of vitamin C every day appeared to cut the risk of getting a cold by 50 percent.

Lin recommends aiming to get the vitamin C you do need daily and focus on getting it from food sources, rather than supplements. I would encourage eating vitamin Crich vegetables to boost your levels of vitamin C, she says. The recommended daily amount of vitamin C for adults is 75 to 90 milligrams (mg) a day, according to the National Institutes of Health. One orange contains about 75 mg, a green pepper contains about 60 mg, and a half cup of Brussels sprouts has almost 50 mg.

Taking very large doses of vitamin C isnt recommended; once doses go above 400 mg, vitamin C is just excreted in the urine, according to the Harvard Health Letter.

Vitamin D is important for maintaining a strong immune system, according to Cooperman. And low levels of vitamin D are associated with frequent colds and influenza, according to the National Institutes of Health. Because we get a lot of the vitamin D we need from sunshine, many people see their levels drop off during the winter months, says Cooperman. Its not necessary to have your levels checked to safely take vitamin D; Cooperman recommends 600 to 800 IU or 15 to 20 micrograms if you decide to take supplements.

A meta-analysis of prospective trials published in the journal BMJ in 2017 found that vitamin D reduced the odds of developing a respiratory infection by 42 percent in people who were vitamin D deficient. Note: Dosage matters. Taking a daily dose of D3 between 300 IU and 4,000 IU was more effective than taking a large monthly dose, according to the BMJ report.

In a randomized, double-blind placebo trial of 5,110 older adults who were vitamin D deficient (published in August 2019 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases), the data again showed that large doses may not be beneficial in preventing respiratory infection. Participants were given 200,000 IU at the start of the study followed by 100,000 IU monthly, with a mean follow-up of 1.6 years. Investigators found no reduction in the number of acute respiratory infections compared with placebo.

If youre not deficient, vitamin D wont really provide a lot of additional benefit, but if you are deficient, taking the supplement can strengthen immunity, says Cooperman.

Apple cider vinegar Though apple cider vinegar (ACV) does boast some other health benefits, there isnt evidence to show that ACV affects immune function or that taking it regularly improves your chances of fighting off viruses, Lin says.

Turmeric While there is some evidence turmeric may yield some health benefits, including helping manage high cholesterol, glucose control, and digestive issues, there isnt specific evidence that it can help fight off a virus, says Lin. There is, however, evidence suggesting one of the active compounds in turmeric (curcumin) does act on immune function in some way, though how those effects may or may not benefit health is still unclear, according to a review published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology.

As always, let your doctor know about all supplements you are taking or plan to take, as they can pose unintended health risks for certain groups or interact with other medications you're taking.

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Can Supplements Protect Me Against the New Coronavirus? - Everyday Health

In light of COVID-19, blood service providers around the country are asking for donations. But is this an area in which Lyme disease patients can help? The risk of whether tick-borne diseases infect American blood banks is hotly debated. While some studies and documented cases have traced transfusion-transmitted tick-borne infections back to donors, Lyme disease is not on the list of threats at this time. However, Lyme has secured itself as the most common and fastest-growing vector-borne illness in the United States, and with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projecting above 300,000 new infections annually, the matter begs for more research. By comparison, each year there are six times more new cases of Lyme than HIV and AIDS, with Lyme disease receiving less than 1% of HIV funding.

Are climbing infection rates, unreliable diagnostic tests, insufficient treatments, and lax donor eligibility guidelines creating the perfect storm for unrecognized transfusion-transmitted Lyme disease? With continued nationwide blood shortages, the urgent need for donations remains high. While donor eligibility guidelines seem to be a straight line for acute, early-onset Lyme disease, that line blurs when we consider the intricacies of Lyme, especially of patients with Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), more colloquially known among the patient population as chronic Lyme disease.

What is the current standard of eligibility? If youve ever been diagnosed with Lyme disease, here is what you need to know about this ongoing discussion to best determine whether it is safe for you to donate blood.

1. Has your Lyme disease been resolved? The main requirement to determine if you are eligible to donate blood after testing positive for Lyme disease is that you have resolved or cured the infection. Individuals being treated for Lyme disease with an antibiotic should not donate blood. Individuals who have completed antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease may be considered as potential blood donors, states the CDC.

Donor eligibility varies slightly amongst states and collection sites, but most sites carry similar guidelines. For example, the blood service provider Vitalant requires a 30-day wait after a Lyme diagnosis, completion of a standard 21-day antibiotic treatment, and being free of symptoms at the time of donation in order to be eligible to donate. On the other hand, the American Red Cross, which accounts for 45% of the transfused blood in the U.S., requires no wait time following standard Lyme treatment.

If Lyme were defined only as an early, localized illness, meaning it is diagnosed and treated within 1-4 weeks of exposure, it might easily be resolved by CDC-approved standard treatment. However, resolution can be difficult to achieve due to the timing of diagnosis and the current treatment standards set by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

There are three stages of Lyme disease:

Lyme disease specialist Dr. Tania Dempsey, founder of Armonk Integrative Medicine in New York, explains the differences among the three stages of illness:

Early localized Lyme disease is the stage when a bulls-eye rash can appear, or patients can develop flu-like symptoms. Some patients dont have any symptoms at this stage. If appropriate antibiotic treatment is started as soon as possible and treated for at least 28 days, although longer courses are sometimes necessary. Resolution of Lyme disease is definitely possible, says Dempsey.

Once early disseminated Lyme sets in, around one to four months, the symptoms can be more severe, indicating the infection has likely infiltrated the joints, nervous system, and other parts of the body. It is critical that the infection be treated no later than this point, as this increases the likelihood of the development of chronic Lyme disease. Prolonged, multi-drug antibiotic courses may be needed at this stage. she adds.

Once Lyme reaches the late disseminated stage, aggressive multi-antibiotic treatments are often called for by Lyme-literate doctors to reverse damage to the heart, joints, and other body systems, but sometimes damage is irreversible.

Persistent infection, despite antibiotic treatment, is real and has been shown repeatedly in the lab, says Dempsey. In fact, a 2018 study confirmed what is still being questioned today by mainstream doctors as a controversial theory. A slow-growing form of Borrelia burgdorferi resisted the standard single-antibiotic treatment in test tubes and within a murine model. Where administering one and two-antibiotic treatments failed to resolve resistant Borrelia, a three-antibiotic cocktail which includes daptomycin, doxycycline and ceftriaxone was administered to infected mice and proved to fully eradicate the bacteria. This widely opens the door to doubt as to whether the standard Lyme treatment is adequate in resolving infection, especially in later stages of illness where early diagnosis was missed.

2. Do you have active symptoms? With resolution of infection comes the assumption that symptoms of the illness are gone. When asked about chronic Lyme patients that display symptoms such as arthritis and ongoing fatigue after the standard 21-day treatment, American Red Cross only considers ineligibility if the symptoms include a fever or a rash. We dont have a set list of symptoms we look at. As long as you dont have a fever or feel unwell at the time of donation, lingering symptoms like joint pain or fatigue wouldnt cause you to be ineligible to donate, a Red Cross eligibility specialist told ProHealth.

When asked what would constitute active symptoms, Vitalant representatives also provided a nonspecific answer: If you feel generally good and dont have a fever, you would be eligible to donate, provided youve completed standard antibiotic therapy, and its been 30 days after your diagnosis.

Due to its similarity to syphilis, Lyme was quickly placed into the medical category of The Great Imitator as early as the 1980s when it was shown to mimic over 100 different diseases. Due to flawed diagnostic abilities and a symptom list extending much further beyond a fever and bulls-eye rash, an untold number of diagnoses are suspected to be missed or delayed. It is no surprise, then, that most of Dempseys patients come to her after years of chronic illness and lack of relief. While some know that Lyme disease is at the root of their symptoms, some dont. Whether the infection can be fully cleared at this stage is unclear. Dempsey says. Patients know their bodies well, and I rely on them to tell me if their symptoms persist or have resolved. However, it is important to note that patients without persistent symptoms could still have hidden Borrelia in their cells. They just may not be active or causing any issues.

We can see how two simple questions can snowball into a complex knot of uncertainty. When it comes to determining whether Lyme patients can transmit Borrelia through blood transfusions, the available science has only solidly concluded the following:

THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF TRANSFUSION-TRANSMITTED LYME IN HUMANS

This sounds comforting. Unfortunately, the absence of reports may be due to an absence of monitoring. Regulations and requirements to test blood donors for Lyme disease dont exist, even in high-risk, endemic states like New York. Whats more concerning is that even if testing was required, Lyme disease testing has been proven to show low sensitivity and low specificity. This means the testing available isnt adequate to provide consistently accurate results, which could confirm a donor is truly resolved of the pathogen that causes Lyme disease. A 2018 article in Frontiers of Microbiology points out, No serologic testing or molecular analyses are routinely done which would be needed in order to fully ensure that potential asymptomatic, Borrelia-infected donors are excluded from the donor pool.

LYME BACTERIA HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED TO MICE THROUGH BLOOD TRANSFUSIONA 2006 study demonstrated that Borrelia burgdorferi was transmitted from infected to naive mice by blood transfusion. Due to the obvious ethical reasons, a similar study has not been reproduced with humans. However, this study supports the notion that untreated Lyme disease may be transmittable through blood. The World Health Organization (WHO) states Lyme disease can survive blood storage temperatures, and that transfusion-transmission in humans is possible but has not been reported.

SIMILAR INFECTIONS LIKE SYPHILIS REQUIRE A ONE YEAR DEFERRAL Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, a spirochete not so dissimilar to the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia. The WHO writes in their guidelines on assessing donor suitability for blood donation, Endogenous bacteria that are transfusion-transmissible include Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Brucella melitensis and Yersinia enterocolitica, but blood donations are routinely screened only for T. pallidum. With syphilis requiring a 12-month post-treatment deferral, it seems plausible to at least consider Lyme disease as worthy of a longer deferral period following treatment and symptom resolution. Currently, the WHO recommends deferring Lyme patients only 28 days following treatment, or a full recovery whichever is longer.

Anyone with experience with Lyme knows the diagnosis is shrouded in a controversial haze of conflicting and missing information. This makes for a foggy understanding when it comes to not only accurately diagnosing, but also obtaining appropriate treatment to resolve the varying range of symptoms this tick-borne disease inflicts. Lyme grays a variety of life areas for patients that would otherwise be straightforward, including whether or not one is truly eligible to donate blood without putting recipients at risk for exposure to Lyme disease.

As a specialist in treating complex, chronic cases of Lyme, Dr. Dempsey tends to mostly see very ill patients who are often not well enough to consider the possibility of donating. However, when the topic does present itself, she offers her professional opinion:

Any patient who has suffered from PTLDS/chronic Lyme or co-infections, including Bartonella and Babesia, should not donate blood. It is clear from recent research that persistent infection is a real possibility, particularly in patients with continued symptoms. Unfortunately, donor recipients are not given any information about who their donor is or what their medical history is so there is no way for them to have any input about whether the blood has come from someone with chronic Lyme or other tick-borne infection.

Are you considering donating? Keep the following in mind:

Ultimately, if you have any doubt about whether or not youre in the clear, the best option would be not to donate until there are better diagnostic capabilities and ways to ensure the blood supply can be kept safe from Lyme disease.

Jenny Menzel is a Certified Health Coach and branding specialist for various alternative healthcare practices, and volunteers her design skills to the annual grassroots campaign, the Lyme Disease Challenge. Jenny was diagnosed with Lyme in 2010 after 8 years of undiagnosed chronic pain and fatigue, and continues to improve by employing multiple alternative therapies, including yurveda, Chinese Medicine and Bee Venom Therapy.

References:

Blood Donor Selection: Guidelines on Assessing Donor Suitability for Blood Donation. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2012. 7, TTI and donor risk assessment. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK138223/

Feng, J., Li, T., Yuan, Y., Yee, R., & Zhang, Y. (2018). Biofilm/Persister/Stationary Phase Bacteria Cause More Severe Disease Than Log Phase Bacteria I Biofilm Borrelia burgdorferi Not Only Display More Tolerance to Lyme Antibiotics But Also Cause More Severe Pathology In a Mouse Arthritis Model: Implications for Understanding Persistence, PTLDS and Treatment Failure. doi: 10.1101/440461

Gabitzsch ES, Piesman J, Dolan MC, Sykes CM, Zeidner NS. Transfer of Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. infection via blood transfusion in a murine model. J Parasitol. 2006;92(4):869870. doi: 10.1645/GE-833R.1

Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/index.html

Pavia CS, Plummer MM. Transfusion-Associated Lyme Disease Although Unlikely, It Is Still a Concern Worth Considering. Front Microbiol. 2018;9:2070. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02070

Excerpt from:
Is it Safe to Donate Blood if You've Been Diagnosed with Lyme Disease? - ProHealth

Though now the leading man in the hit CBS series, Bull, many Michael Weatherly fans will always remember the actor for his career-catalyzing role as Agent Tony DiNozzo in NCIS. Boasting a successful TV career, the actor has grown quite a bit since his early Hollywood days in Foxs Dark Angel which starred one of Weatherlys famous loves, Jessica Alba.

Weatherly dated Alba who was then 18 after they met on the Fox show. While the actor proposed, the relationship didnt work out, and Weatherly went on to date and marry Amelia Heinle (American actress known for starring in the soap opera The Young and the Restless).

Amelie Heinle and Michael Weatherly were married from 1995 until 1997. Michael Weatherly is now married to Bojana Jankovic; the two wed in 2009. So, how did they meet? Who is Jankovic, and what does she do for a living? And, just how much older is Weatherly than the latest love of his life?

Bojana Jankovic is a writer and an assistant director known for TVWWW and Do Not Leave Me with Strangers. Jankovic has also appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Extra with Billy Bush.She is also an award-winning physician who is double board-certified in internal and integrative medicine. She founded the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center.

Jankovic and Weatherly reportedly met in a bar in Vancouver in 2007 (at least thats one of the most commonly reported stories). At the time, Weatherly was allegedly enjoying the single life, according to Heavy.com. The couple has explained that their relationship beginnings involved several continents and was quite complicated. In the end, it was clearly meant to be.

In 2009, the couple tied the knot, and they bought a home in Hollywood Hills in 2012. However, when they tied the knot, Jankovic was still quite young, as there is a sizable age difference between Weatherly and his now-wife.

Michael Weatherly was born in 1968, making him 51 years old. On the other hand, Jankovic was born on May 7 in 1983. Jankovic is 36 today, yet she was still in her 20s when she married Weatherly back in 2009.

Maybe, theres something to true to the old saying that women mature faster than men. There is a 15 year age gap between the happy couple; however, it seems to work, as they have been together for over a decade and now have children together.

As for Liam Weatherly and Olivia Weatherly, the former is Weatherly and Jankovics 6-year-old son who was born in 2013, and the latter is their 7-year-old daughter born in 2012. Michael Weatherly also has one son from his previous marriage to Heinle, August Manning Weatherly, who is 24 years old.

So, Michael Weatherly has three kids. His eldest happens to be closer in age to his current wife than he is; however, anything goes in Hollywood! Its hard enough to find love in Tinseltown, and accounting for age differences minimizes the pool of potential candidates to too great an extent.So, heres to wishing the couple many more years together.

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Inside the Large Age Gap Between Former 'NCIS' Star Michael Weatherly and Wife Bojana Jankovic - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Last week, Gwyneth Paltrows modern lifestyle brand Goop announced it was closing stores in the U.S. and U.K. to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus currently sweeping the globe. Meanwhile, Paltrows psychiatrist-pal Kelly Brogan, a high-profile Goop contributor, has racked up tens of thousands of views on social media spreading discredited pseudoscientific claims that the coronavirus might not even exist, and that symptoms attributed to the virus are likely being caused by widespread fear.

The claims were made in a widely shared video posted on Facebook, Instagram (which is owned by Facebook), and Vimeo last week by Brogan, a New York State-licensed psychiatrist, New York Times bestselling author, AIDS denialist, anti-vaxxer, and, according to Goop, a trusted expert and recent contributor to its site and live events.

Its just the latest stain on Paltrows already controversial brand, which in recent years has become synonymous with such questionable products as the Jade Egg, an egg-shaped gemstone that purportedly harness[es] the power of energy work, crystal healing, and a Kegel-like physical practice when inserted in the vagina.

In the video, which was originally shared with paid subscribers of Brogans health reclamation program, Vital Life Project, and has since been viewed over 75,000 times online, Brogan claimed that there is potentially no such thing as the coronavirus because its not possible to prove that any given pathogen has induced death, and that the rising death toll caused by the virus is likely being accelerated by the fear [of the virus] itself.

She also professed that she doesnt believe the widely accepted germ theory of disease, encouraged viewers to seek alternative theories, suggested that the news media is being controlled by an unnamed pro-vaccination group, and speculated that the U.S. government is planning to link our passports with our vaccination records and gain totalitarian governmental control not unlike the divide-and-conquer dehumanization agendas that preceded the Holocaust.

Facebook quickly removed the video after inquiries from The Daily Beast. These videos violate our policies and have been removed from both Facebook and Instagram, a spokesperson said.

Goop declined to comment, stating: We would suggest reaching out to Dr. Brogan directly as she didnt make those comments on goops platform. (Vimeowhich is owned by The Daily Beasts parent companyand Brogan did not return requests for comment.)

Brogan attributed her claims about the coronavirus to the pseudoscientific theories of the late Ryke Geerd Hamer, a ghoulish German doctor who in 1986 had his medical license permanently revoked in Germany after a number of patients in his care died. Hamers more recent victims include Susanne Rehklau, a 12-year-old girl who suffered a painful death after Hamer gave her the all-clear.

According to Hamers German New Medicine, all illness and disease, including pathogenic infections, are caused by psychological trauma, with specific traumatic experiences said to correlate with specific physical symptoms. For example, a child who is forced to live under the conservativeor inflexiblerule of an overbearing parent might develop rigid joints. To cure themselves, Hamer claimed, patients must disavow conventional Western medicine (which he claimed was a conspiracy orchestrated by the Jewish chemo mafia) and overcome their unresolved trauma using non-pharmacological, or natural, treatment methods, including talk therapy.

Medical authorities, including the German Cancer Society and the Swiss Cancer League, have widely denounced Hamer's theories as dangerous and lacking any scientific or empirical justification.

Experts who spoke to The Daily Beast agreed there is no scientific basis for Brogans analogous claims about the coronavirus.

David Colquhoun, a British pharmacologist and noted scourge of scientific quackery, called Brogans claims utter nonsense, and said he had never before heard such an explicit denial of germ theory.

Shes a very, very dangerous fantasist, Colquhoun said. I wonder whether she takes antibiotics if she gets a bacterial infection?

Shes a very, very dangerous fantasist. I wonder whether she takes antibiotics if she gets a bacterial infection?

Benjamin Radford, deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer, which publishes investigations debunking paranormal phenomena and fringe science, said Brogans video should be viewed in the context of other populist pseudoscientific claimssuch as miasma theory and the law of attractionand questioned whether she was a real doctor.

Theres always been this sort of populist appeal by people who reject science, and thats exactly whats going on here, Radford said. Unfortunately, outbreaks like this are exactly the wrong time to bring these things up because [...] they divert people from legitimate evidence-based treatments.

Brogans credentials were also called into question by Peter M. Heimlich, a medical fraud researcher and the son of Dr. Henry Heimlich (of the famous maneuver). [Disclosure: the younger Heimlich is a friend of the author.]

In a March 22 letter shared with The Daily Beast, Heimlich asked the Office of Professional Medical Conduct, which is a branch of the New York State Department of Health, to determine whether Brogan misrepresented her board certifications online.

The letter highlights potentially misleading claims on Brogans site that she is currently board-certified in the areas of psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine/consultation psychiatry through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), and that according to ABPNs online database, she is no longer certified in either specialty.

A spokesperson for ABPN said they could not speak directly about Brogan, and that the certification status of its diplomates is clearly stated on its site.

Per Heimlichs letter, Brogan also claims board certification through the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM), but ABIHM stopped issuing certificates in 2014 and now operates under a different name. (ABIHMs former executive director did not return a request for comment.)

A note on Brogans site says she is not currently accepting applications for one-on-one consultations and only holds group healing weekends once yearly in her home state of Florida.

Despite the criticism, she continues to peddle her discredited theories, posting a second video to her social media channels on Friday in which she again appeared to deny the existence of the coronavirus and invited viewers to join her paid subscription program.

Read more:
The Gwyneth Paltrow-Approved Goop Doctor Pushing Wacky Coronavirus Conspiracies - The Daily Beast

First up: Any IV treatment also carries a small risk of bleeding and infection at the site where the needle is placed in the skin or getting too much fluid infused. IV infusions may be a common medical procedure, but they are still a medical procedure.

The second safety concern is where you are getting it, notes functional and integrative medicine practitioner Roxanna Namavar, M.D., board-certified psychiatrist and fellow in the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, who uses it at her own practice."No matter what IV therapy you are getting, you want to make sure your practitioner knows where the ingredient is sourced, and how it is compounded. They should also tailor your infusion treatments to you: It shouldn't feel like you're picking things off a menu. Your practitioner should look at your lab work, symptoms, and goals and create a protocol that is specific to your needs."

This concern comes to light most notably with the large amounts of IV bars that have popped up lately, most without much regulation. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission recently took action against an IV drip bar for making unsupported health claims about their ability to treat serious illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or congestive heart failure.

If done under the supervision of a responsible health care practitioner, however, Namavar says there are no significant safety concerns. She notes that some patients may be sensitive to IV NAD+ therapy, specifically, and experience discomfort such as warming of the chest and nausea. Wally Taylor, M.D., a functional medicine physician with Texas Integrative Medicine in Austin, Texas, notes similarly, "One of the things about NAD+ is that you can't infuse it too quickly without it being pretty uncomfortable." He says some of his patients, "say they feel like they're having symptoms of a heart attack, but when we look at their heart monitor, we don't see any evidence of that." He has found that breathing high-concentration oxygen during the infusion can reduce some of these side effects.

"Any time you're giving treatments intravenously, there could be problems of one sort or another," says Taylor. "So it's useful to have the direct oversight of a health care provider who has experience with NAD+." He says complications are more likely to arise in people with a chronic illness, but it's not impossible for healthy people to have a bad reaction.

Cost is another issue. A single IV NAD+ therapy ranges from several hundred dollars to $1,000 or more. You also have to factor in travel time to the clinic and the wait timeinfusions generally take two or more hours, and some people may need infusions several days in a row.

Originally posted here:
NAD IV Therapy: What Is This Trendy New Treatment & Is It Safe? - mindbodygreen.com

As society is forced into isolation, people are finding themselves craving connection more than ever. According to a study the online dating service OkCupid released on Mar. 10 of this year, 88 percent of users globally and 92 percent of U.S. users were continuing to date during the coronavirus outbreak. (At least at the time they were surveyed.) But while many Americans have found themselves with additional time on their hands, mitigation efforts enacted by several states and cities discourage doing a lot of the activities you might usually choose for a date. California, Ohio, Illinois, and Washington are among the states that have closed all bars and restaurants to slow the spread of COVID-19. In some areaslike New York City and Los Angelesmovie theaters, shopping centers, and other gathering places have also temporarily ceased operations. Even if you live in an area where those businesses remain open, experts still recommend social distancingi.e. staying home as much as possible and limiting contact with other people as much as you can.

Where does all of this leave those who are still looking to make a match? We asked doctors to tell us how to safely date during the pandemic. Before you open your favorite app, keep reading to find out what these experts have to say.

Most experts we talked with suggested not canceling romance altogether, but approaching it from a different angle. David B. Samadi, MD, urologic oncology expert and Director of Men's Health at St. Francis Hospital in New York, cautions against meeting up with a blind date or someone you don't know very well, "because you don't know the status of their health, and even if they say they're healthy, they could still have the virus and just not be symptomatic yet." But that doesn't mean that you still can't get to know someone outside of texting and sharing your profiles. Family and integrative medicine specialist Bindiya Gandhi, MD suggests that daters "talk on the phone" and "get a feel for the person, like we used to before dating apps." Once you feel more comfortable with them, you can decide whether to actually meet up. "Better to be 100 percent cautious," she adds.

If you decide you want to physically get together with your date, there's really only one safe way to do so. "People can self-isolate and then get together outside at a park and keep a big distance between [themselves]," says integrative gynecologist Felice Gersh, MD. (The broadly accepted safe distance for droplet-transmitted diseases like coronavirus is six feet, per Johns Hopkins.) However, Gersh stipulates, "If one of the two people is not practicing social distancing, then it is probably best to just talk through telecommunications." To sum up: you want to be sure that your date has been following the recommended precautions; otherwise your chances of being infected go up.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) official guidelines for protecting yourself from coronavirus include avoiding close contact and touching your/another person's face. Unfortunately, that means intimate experiences with new partners are off the table.

"I would hold off [kissing] unless you're married or in a committed relationship, because the virus can be passed through mucus membranes and saliva is pretty close," says Gandhi. Kissing may seem harmless, but Gersh warns, "It's not really safe. There are extremely high viral titers in saliva." These viral proteins allow the virus to be transferred quite easily from person to person through that kind of contact.

The reality is that many crises in historyfrom the 1965 blackoutto more recentnatural disastersresulted in a spike in birthrates. With so much time at home, "couples are having more sex," says women's urologist and sexual health expert Jennifer Berman, MS, MD. It's likely that social distancing will have the same effect, but, as COVID-19 is a new challenge, there's little research on how it impacts pregnancy. However, we know fevers can be harmful to embryo development, and a fever is a core symptom of this disease. "Data so far shows that the virus is not transmitted to the baby while in utero and breast milk also does not have the virus in it," Gersh says. "If the mom gets the virus and recovers, her antibodies may offer protection to her baby." (Either way, the mother should practice self-isolation.)

Another issue for expectant mothers is receiving adequate care. With hospitals and healthcare workers scrambling to manage coronavirus patients, now isn't the best time to intentionally conceive and put additional strain on the system.

With the pandemic still playing out, the future is still in flux. "This will not go on forever," Gersh says. "[But] some believe we may be dealing with the coronavirus for the next18 to 24 months." Bermansuggests keeping an eye on the loosening of other restrictions, such as school closures, as "a good litmus test for what is appropriate." We are in uncharted territory and advice may change based on what medical professionals learn about the virus, so check for recommendations from the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and your local government. If restaurants and bars are still closed in your area, you should not be heading out on a regular date.

What about partners who live together?

As people are asked to curtail their public lives, couples who live together will be in constant contact in their homes. "If one person has it, the other will get it," Berman says.

"With your intimate, exclusive partner you live with, it's okay to touch, as long as neither is having symptoms," Gersh advises. "However, if one or both of the partners fall into a high-risk group, you might reconsider all close physical contact. These are personal decisions the two of you must make together." She also notes that in couples where one or more individuals is in a job that puts them at a higher risk of contracting coronavirussuch as healthcare or law enforcementcontact should also be limited or suspended.

How did Jane Austen's characters maintain such fulfilling romantic lives without bar hopping or sleeping together? Berman advocates for the art of the letter to make a comeback. "One way you can remain intimate and connected is to write to another person from your heart," she says. If that practice feels too antiquated for you, you could always give your date a ring on the phone or talk through video chat.

Berman is concerned about the long-term effects of this necessary self-isolation. Being with other people "is necessary for health, wellness, sexuality, and longevity," she says. "We need to be able to connect with other people. It's hardwired in our DNA, so things like this that separate us are not consistent with the survival of our species." However, she predicts that humans will bounce back from this crisis and settle into normalcy againand yes, that includes lots of first dates, both good and bad.

"The pendulum has swung so far into fear and separation, but the pendulum will swing back it always does," Berman says. "The goal will be to swing back into balance and be able to feel comfortable being intimate with people [again]."

More:
Is It Safe to Date During the Coronavirus Pandemic? Experts Explain - Best Life

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alector, Inc. (ALEC) today announced the addition of Paula Hammond, Ph.D., to the Companys Board of Directors. Dr. Hammond is the David H. Koch Chair Professor of Engineering and Department Head, Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a member of MITs Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and a founding member of the MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology.

At Alector, we are building a leading biotechnology company, and as part of those efforts, we are partnering with top scientists, drug developers and business leaders to advise us and support our ambitious goal of curing neurodegeneration, said Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alector. Paula brings more than 25 years of scientific excellence to our Board. Her expertise in applying scientific innovation to advances in drug delivery will be an asset to our team as we continue to develop first-in-class medicines for these unmet medical needs. We are very pleased to welcome her to Alectors Board of Directors, and we look forward to leveraging her expertise as we advance our programs through clinical development.

Dr. Hammond is one of only 25 distinguished scientists elected to all three national academies, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Hammond is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has published over 300 papers and holds more than 20 patents based on her research at MIT. Dr. Hammond holds a Ph.D. and an S.B. in chemical engineering from MIT, and an M.S. in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her laboratory at MIT designs polymers and nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to address cancer, wound healing and regenerative medicine.

Alectors mission of discovering and developing treatments for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases is not a small feat. After meeting Arnon, other members of the Alector team and the rest of the Board, I am confident in their commitment to change the life of these patients, said Dr. Hammond. I am looking forward to partnering with the Board and the management team as Alector advances its research and development programs.

Alector's current Board members include: Arnon Rosenthal, Co-Founder and CEO of Alector; Tillman Gerngross, Co-Founder of Alector and CEO of Adimab; Lou J. Lavigne Jr., former CFO of Genentech; Terry McGuire, Partner, Polaris Venture Partners, Richard Scheller, former EVP of Research at Genentech and former CSO of 23andMe; David Wehner, CFO of Facebook; and Kristine Yaffe, Professor, UCSF.

About AlectorAlector is a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Immuno-neurology targets immune dysfunction as a root cause of multiple pathologies that are drivers of degenerative brain disorders. Alector is developing a broad portfolio of programs designed to functionally repair genetic mutations that cause dysfunction of the brains immune system and enable the rejuvenated immune cells to counteract emerging brain pathologies. The Companys product candidates are supported by biomarkers and target genetically defined patient populations in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimers disease. Alector is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. For additional information, please visit http://www.alector.com.

ContactsMedia:1ABDan Budwick, 973-271-6085dan@1abmedia.comorInvestors:Alector, Inc.ir@alector.com

Read more from the original source:
Alector Announces the Appointment of Paula Hammond, Ph.D., to the Board of Directors - Yahoo Finance

When you're under the weather, your body needs immune-supportive nutrients to fight off a cold or virus. While foods can't prevent, treat or magically cure your illness, what you eat can soothe your symptoms and potentially help you bounce back quicker.

Mushrooms are packed with vitamins and minerals that help your immune system function at its peak.

Credit: from_my_point_of_view/iStock/GettyImages

Here, nine foods that'll help and three that can hinder your recovery.

Especially when you're fighting an infection, you need to stay hydrated. Drinking fluids helps every system in your body function at its best, carries much-needed nutrients to your cells and aids in flushing bacteria, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Next to water, there's nothing better than a warm, comforting cup of tea. "Drinking tea can help restore hydration, which is important for recovery, as well as soothe digestion and a sore throat," Lisa Moskovitz, RDN, founder and CEO of The NY Nutrition Group, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

And, depending on what ails you, sipping specific kinds of teas may mitigate your symptoms. For example, peppermint tea, which contains menthol, can ease an upset stomach, while black tea, rich in flavonoids, combats inflammation and supports healthy immune function, according to Penn Medicine.

For an extra dose of immune-boosting power, squeeze some honey into your teacup. "Not only does it make tea taste a whole lot better, but it also contains natural antiviral and antibacterial properties that could help you fight off sickness a little faster," Moskovitz says.

Indeed, a review in the April-June 2017 issue of Pharmacognosy Research found that honey has antimicrobial as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

And honey can calm your cough, too. Case in point: A half teaspoon of honey before bedtime worked as well as a cough suppressant for children (over 1 year old), per research published in the December 2014 issue of Canadian Family Physician.

That said, adults may need to up their dose to get the same soothing, throat-coating effect. Just don't overdo it on the drizzle honey comes with a heap of sugar and calories.

The health benefits of garlic make it worth the bad breath.

Credit: Robert Daly/OJO Images/GettyImages

Not only does garlic enhance your food's flavor, it could also improve your immune system too. Yup, this pantry staple boasts natural antibacterial properties and can protect you from pathogens like bacteria that can cause infections, Moskovitz says.

If you're not a fan of raw garlic, there are alternatives: Research published in the June 2012 issue of Clinical Nutrition found that aged garlic extract may boost your immune cell function and, subsequently, reduce the severity of a cold.

When you're feeling foul, a few fungi might help you feel better. "Mushrooms, particularly shirataki mushrooms, have an array of important vitamins, minerals and enzymes that help your body function at its peak," Moskovitz says. "Additionally, research shows they can enhance the immune system for natural protection against different types of infections."

She's right. An April 2015 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that consuming shiitake mushrooms could improve immunity, as evidenced by an increase in the production of antibodies as well as cell proliferation and activation.

"Packed with immune-boosting vitamin C, citrus fruits can help your body defend itself against certain infections," Moskovitz says.

In fact, taking daily vitamin C supplements, which have an anti-histamine effect, can ease the severity of a cold and shorten its duration by about 8 percent, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

That said, "mega-doses of vitamin C won't cure any viruses or infections you are already suffering from," Moskovitz explains. In other words, if you're already under the weather, overindulging in oranges won't be much help. Better to consume vitamin C regularly as a preventive measure.

Try adding sliced fresh ginger to tea, soup or a stir-fry.

Credit: 4nadia/iStock/GettyImages

"Ginger has been linked to a stronger antibody response, meaning that it can help defend the body against potential viruses," Moskovitz says.

The pungent root can destroy common bacteria and pathogens, according to a June 2017 article in the International Journal of Molecular Science.

And if you're dealing with nausea and/or vomiting, a study published March 2016 in Integrative Medicine Insights found that ginger can be an effective and safe treatment, especially for individuals whose symptoms are related to pregnancy or chemotherapy.

Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir and kombucha contain gut-healthy probiotics, which can help keep your immune system strong, Moskovitz says. But how? ICYMI, your gut plays a major role in your immune system, and probiotics which are rich in good bacteria strengthen your gut flora.

A 2011 review published in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology found that consuming probiotics could lower a healthy individual's risk of acquiring common cold infections and reduce the duration of a cold.

If you can stomach it, shellfish should be at the top of your shopping list when you're sick. That's because they're one of the best sources of zinc, an essential immune-boosting nutrient, Moskovitz says. Your body needs zinc to produce T-lymphocytes (the white blood cells that fight infection), according to the NIH.

Hard to find in natural food sources, the healthy mineral is abundant in shellfish like oysters, which boast more zinc per serving than any other food, per the NIH.

Rich in the antioxidant carnosine and its derivative anserine, chicken soup and chicken breast extracts could aid in "thinning out and clearing mucus in the nasal passages," says Pauline Jose, MD, a clinical instructor at UCLA and family medicine specialist at pH Labs, a national nonprofit health information organization.

What's more, "the protein in chicken helps provide the body with energy to recover" and "the fluids in the soup aid in the body's hydration, which can help in its recuperation from illness, including the flu," says Denise Pate, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan.

You may want to lay off the caffeine as well as common coffee fixings when you're not feeling well.

Credit: MariuszBlach/iStock/GettyImages

The following everyday foods may do you more harm than good when you're fighting off an infection.

"While they may help you keep sugar and calorie intake low, if you're feeling under the weather, you might want to steer clear of artificial sweeteners," Moskowitz says.

Why? "Artificial sweeteners can cause additional gastric distress and potentially contribute to pounding headaches," she explains.

A cold scoop of ice cream may sound like the perfect solution to soothe a sore throat, but milk-based foods might make your symptoms worse, especially if you're congested.

Though "studies show dairy doesn't necessarily increase mucus production, it can thicken it," Moskovitz says. So, "If you're already dealing with a stuffy nose or sinus pressure, it might help to switch to dairy-free alternatives for the time being."

"While you might be grasping at caffeine to get you through the day when you're sick, keep in mind that excessive amounts can cause potential upset stomach and mild dehydration," Moskovitz says.

Since staying hydrated is essential to recovery, consuming caffeine is a major no-no. That means giving up or limiting coffee, chocolate, soda and other caffeinated drinks during the duration of your cold.

Not to mention, "caffeine can also suppress appetite, and if you're sick, you don't want to miss out on key immune-boosting nutrients like C, zinc and antioxidants" that your body gets through healthy foods, Moskovitz says.

Read more stories to help you navigate the novel coronavirus pandemic:

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9 Foods to Eat When You're Sick and 3 to Avoid - LIVESTRONG.COM

This info was accurate at press time, and were continuing to update ourcoronaviruscoverage as we learn more.

Humans crave social interaction but a coronavirus quarantine isnt exactly the best way to cater to thator is it? Experts note that during this time of social distancing and staying in, you dont have to let your relationships fizzle. There are many ways in which you can keep up connections with your friends and family. It just might require a little bit of creativity.

Its important to our health, well-being and stress levels that we dont confuse the necessary physical distancing with social isolation, explains Sally Anne Carroll, a life and career reinvention coach, Portland, Oregon. We all need each other and maintaining our social connections as much as we can is a must to functioning well through this crisis.

Here are 40 suggestions on how to keep the party goingsafelywhile doing your part to help contain the virus.

1. Stay in contact: Social distancing, says Heather Cosimin, an associate professor of psychology at the College of Arts & Sciences at Johnson & Wales University, doesnt mean you should cut yourself off. Continue to connect with friends and loved ones by text, email and phone, she adds.

Related:Love in the Time of Coronavirus6 Tips to Protect Your Marriage While Quarantined

2. Celebrate milestones with a virtual hangout: My friend, Matt Bordofsky, turned 42 today and approximately 29 friends (and their dogs) showed up via Zoom to celebrate with him, says Keren Poznansky, a publicist in Los Angeles. She noted that this celebration brought together friends from all across the globe the furthest person was from Lithuania. The party, says Poznansky, started at 8:30 p.m. We poured some drinks and toasted the birthday boy. We made each other laugh by putting up our favorite vintage photos of the man of the hour as backgrounds from the 80s, 90s, etc. We all sang happy birthday and he blew out the candles on his Commissioner Gordon Batman 89 cake, she shares. Matt made a speech, he thanked everyone for coming, we all cheered and it ended around 9 p.m.

3. Keep up with your workout buddy: Workout with friends, suggests Stephanie Newman, PhD, a psychologist, psychoanalyst and author of Barbarians at the PTA. If solitary exercise is a downer, set up a common time to practice yoga or cardio by videoconference, she says.

4. Share a toast with a virtual happy hour: To keep up with her network, Renee Paczkowski, an administrative assistant in Troy, Michigan, is meeting up with friends for scheduled virtual happy hours. Two of my friends and I used to regularly go to trivia or local breweries, but hadnt had the chance to lately because life got too busy. And, as all of us are working at home to some extent, and its not possible to go out, I suggested that we have a virtual happy hour over either FaceTime (we all have iPhones) or Hangout, she says. The first one is scheduled for Friday and for Packowski, the drink of choice will be whiskey.

Related: Here Are All the Distilleries Making Hand Sanitizer Instead of Booze

5. Be extra neighborly: Connect with neighbors by bringing lunch or dinner to the bottom of your driveway, your porch, deck or other safe distance location and waving to each other, recommends Carroll. She says that while many of our neighborhoods look like ghost towns, it can be comforting to know we are all here, making the best of a difficult situation and reducing the feeling of isolation.

6. Teach each other a new skill: Sarah Agajanian, an artist in Los Angeles, recently logged onto FaceTime to have her pal, Michele Hodeda, led her in a cooking class. She taught me how to make mushrooms and walnut tacos. Shes an amazing cook. And it was such a cool experience! she says, joking that while the chef prepared to teach, the student watched and jump roped in her parking garage. It really made time go by quickly an truthfully felt like a full blown hangout session, adds Agajanian.

7. Volunteer from afar: If youre looking for ways to give back while getting involved with others, Newman suggests starting challenges with friends. Identify those in need and raise money.Or start a movement: Drive traffic to a Facebook page or social sites set up to thank first responders of healthcare professionals, she says. Newman adds that this can be a great time to send a little love those who are on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus. Each person can take a photo or film a round of applause with a message of thanks and pass it on.Its clich but helping someone else makes us feel good, she explains.

Related:Deep BreathsHow to Stay Happy and Avoid Coronavirus Anxiety When Social Distancing

8. Take weekly meetups into the virtual world: My choir teacher Greg Delson leads a community choir where we meet every Tuesday and we had our first virtual choir session this week. We decided its still a nice way for our community to stay connected and do the thing we love mostsing! says Tanya Khani, aka the Soulful Publicist. She adds that shes also been popping in on her teachers virtual sing alongs/variety show for the past two nights and sang with him. It was soul nourishing, she reveals.

9. Swap some stories with an online community: To get through the solitude of the coronavirus lockdown, Jennifer Brody, author of The Continuum Trilogy, is turning to the support of her online authors group, BookPod. We have a newsletter and ongoing community. We may start some virtual workshops too during this time. Its become a real support, she says.

10. Meet up for an almost in-person meal: My mom, brother and I all got into separate cars and parked in a deserted lot by the beach to have a picnic! We were able to wave, see each other, and talk (kind of) face-to-face, says Southern California-based musician, Ariana Savalas. She jokes that during this time while she dined on chips and soda, the dogs were confused, but at least it was something!

11. Make some fun future plans with pals: You arent jetting off to Europe anytime soon but why not put together your dream trip with your favorite travel buddies. Planning travel or local outings that you want to do together when the crisis is over is a great way to tap into anticipation and positive emotion, says Carroll. Dream up which restaurants you will dine at and what you will eat, the essential landmarks to see, and all of the excursions that you want to embark upon while you are out of town. The trip will be waiting for you when the coronavirus pandemic dies down.

12. Engage your kids: Ive been organizing FaceTime play dates with my daughters friends, says Paula Hoss, founder and CEO of Cln & Dirty Natural Skincare. Each day, she says, her kids are treated to a surprise call with a friend or family member. They get three clues as to who it is and theyve loved guessing who is up next.

Related:20+ Best Food Delivery Apps to Get You Through the Coronavirus Pandemic

13. Honor your monthly book club: Youvefinallyread the book and this months group got canceled. Now what?Slip into your cozy slippers and host it online, says Ellen Wasyl, an executive life coach at Priv-Swiss Wellnessin Connecticut. She suggests using a platform like Zoom, Google Hangout or Skype to arrange the meetup. And this is a great way to discuss something other than the coronavirus.

14. Reacquaint yourself with good some old-fashioned letter writing: Giving and receiving, yes please! If you dont have the materials on hand or cant get out to the post office for stamps and mailing, there are online options, says Wasyl. Her personal favorites? Postableand Greetabl.

15. Rediscover your connections from the past. Call your long-lost cousins, friends, coworkers, colleagues, classmates who have been on the back burner of your life for a few years. Have reunions! Someone will be glad to hear from you, says Val Walker, author of 400 FRIENDS AND NO ONE TO CALL: Breaking Through Isolation and Building Community. This, she says, can mutually help alleviate anxiety and loneliness, as well as strike up some fun and heart-warming companionship. You can probably Skype or videoconference your visitbut at least call them, adds Walker.

16. Host a virtual game night:Line up a few friends or couples and break out a trivia game, Wasyl says. Make your own snacks, get your own drinks ready, divide up into teams and do your best to conquer.

Related: The 22 Best Online Games to Play With Friends

17. Get Crafty: Another idea, says Walker, is to make personalized gifts and thoughtful cards for loved ones and friends. Get crafty with paintings, decorated boxes, hand-beaded jewelry, pillows, knitted wear, quilts, kids puppets, clothing and fabric, decorated with fabric-markers, she suggests. Pinterest is full of fun craft ideas for families, kids, seniors. Take photos and send these too. Walker explains that crafting, hands-on projects and making art, doodling and coloring books are very healing and calming for anxiety.

18. Make a lunch date: Pick a day and time to virtually eat lunch together once a week, says Dr. Amanda Holdsworth, the director of PR and brand strategy for Reink Media Group in Royal Oak, Michigan, who has been doing this with her friends over Google Hangouts Meet for the past few Tuesdays. She also engages in virtual coffee sessions with colleagues. Recently, I was incredibly bummed out when my familys dream trip to Copenhagen was canceled. But, one of my colleagues suggested having our morning coffee together via Hangouts the next day, just like we would if we were in the office. It sure helped my mental and emotional state! she reveals.

19. Dance it out together: Melissa Drake, the author of TranscenDANCE: Lessons From Living, Loving, and Dancing and a life coach recently hosted her first virtual dance party to help others commune and dance.The Mid-Week Dance Day Quarantine Style was a great way for her network to come together to literally shake it off.

Related:30 Adult Coloring Books to Keep Your Hands Busy and Your Mind at Ease

20. Family time: Silvia M. Dutchevici, president and founder of Critical Therapy Center in New York City, says a coronavirus quarantine can be the perfect time to rally the family together for some cozy time together. Projects such as: arts and crafts, drawing, reading, or even watching a movie together and then discussing, it can feel less scary, she explains. Another great activity to do with your clan, per Dutchevici, is to think of ways that you can help either leaving some canned food for a neighbor, or volunteering to take a walk with a lonely friend or neighbor while keeping your distance. These acts of kindness, she says, will make us feel connected to one another, and ultimately less lonely.

21. Wrangle your network and share your favorite movies, music playlists, books, podcasts, and blogs: Then, Walker says to follow up by talking about the shared experience by phone Lots of folks love to talk about a mutually inspiring and favorite movie or book together. Or set up a Facebook chat group to talk about the things that are helping us all hold on during these times.

22. Connect with like-minded individuals to discuss interests and experiences: Try an app of forum that connects you with a community of those in your same shoes. Peanut, for instance, provides moms with a safe networking and open dialogue space. And if you are into plant-based eating, you can join a community like Vegan Recipes for Beginners.

Related: Best Free Livestreaming Workouts

23, Get the gang togethervirtually: Dont let the coronavirus keep your group from continuing to bond. Khani and her girlfriends have found a new way to connect by scheduling girl gang weekly video calls. Its a time of support and hearing each other out and sharing new insights on whats really happening with us emotionally and spiritually while we are on this new journey together, she says.

24. Keep your support groups going: If youve been counting on a weekly or monthly support group to get you through the hard times, youll likely need it more than ever in the midst of all of the coronavirus panic. Thus talk to group organizers to get meetings like AA, NA, Al-Anon, step studies, church groups, etc. set up virtual meetings. This, says Jessica Tate, the regional clinical director at Landmark Recovery, will help to limit the in-person interaction, while still receiving the benefits of social interaction.

25.Get outdoors: Hiking and walking is fine, as long as you keep a 6-foto distance from those around you. TheAllTrails app helps connect users to local trails, something that can help us all feel a little more normal right now, says Suzanne Bartlett-Hackenmiller an integrative medicine physician and OBGYN. Share new favorite hikes with outdoorsy friends and challenge them to try the same ones, while also providing recommendations for others that have been given their official stamp of approval.

Related:5 Things You Can Do to Help Your Kids (And You!) Adjust to Stay-At-Home Lifeand How to Talk to Them About Coronavirus

26. Plan the same activities with your friends: My friend, Briana, and her sons drew pictures of leprechauns for St. Patricks Day. Briana sent a photo to me and my friend, Marisa, of their family holding the finished creations. She also sent us the link to the YouTube video How to Draw a Leprechaun, says Ali Wenzke, the Chicago-based author of The Art of Happy Moving. Inspired by the activity, Wenzke reveals that she and her kids then took a turn at drawing leprechauns, which they were then inspired to share. We sent each other photos and it felt so good to be connected, she recalls.

27. Spend meaningful technology-free time with the people you live with: When was the last time you put your phone away and watched a movie with your significant other? Or turned your phone off and colored with your child? Use this time to disconnect from technology and spend face-to-face time with the people around you, says Chad Brandt, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Houston OCD Program.

28. Get thankful with your community: When the Corona Virus pandemic started, I saw how many people were scared and decided that I would start a 14 day gratitude challenge on Facebook because one of the biggest antidotes to fear is gratitude, says Jocelyn Kuhn, a certified transitional life coach and the author of Thriving Through Transitions. She notes that by the end of the first day, there were 150 people in the group. Now I get to interact with people everyday for 14 days who are either like-minded and were looking for something positive to be a part of, or who are in need of support and were looking for a place to find hope, she adds.

29.Dont forget about your coworkers: While many of us have been sent off to work from home, you may be feeling isolated and cut off from your normal water cooler talk. Thus, Krista Neher, CEO of Boot Camp Digital, suggests setting up a video meeting with your coworker. We take for granted how much our work life is a part of our social life. Seeing people makes a big difference so try for audio instead of video, she advises.

Related: 25 Best Learning Apps

30. Post about your local small businesses: Many businesses are taking a hit right now and social media is a powerful word-of-mouth tool. Thus, Mae Karwowski, founder & CEO of influencer marketing agency, Obviously, suggests using your social media accounts right now to make local recommendations to a friend or family. Post about a good delivery menu at a family-owned restaurant, encourage people to buy gift cards to your favorite small boutique, or post about your hairstylist so they still have a pipeline of referrals even while things are on hold. Ask your network for referrals as well. This will give everyone something to look forward to when things get back up and running again.

31. Take your dog for a walk: Going out to get some exercise and fresh air is not only good for you physically but it provides opportunities to interact with others (from a safe distance). As you stroll through your neighborhood, speak to your neighbors while remaining 6-feet away. Ask them how theyre doing. And if you see older folks who may have trouble getting out, make a special effort to find out how theyre doing, says Jeanne Hurlbert, PhD, president of Hulbert Consulting and chief data officer of Smart Counseling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

32. Connect with your overseas crew: is the best time to connect with friends or family overseas. Mike Hanski, a teacher and online tutor for high school students with Bid4Papers, explains that life gets busy and catching up with those outside of your time zone can be a challenge. But now that that youre both likely on house arrest, he suggests taking this chance to catch up and talk. Youll both be thankful to have had this opportunity, he explains.

33. Try something new: During the coronavirus pandemic, and our current state of encouraged and/or mandated quarantine, its a perfect time to try something new, says Jay Shifman, an addiction and mental health speaker, writer, consultant, and advocate in Daniel Island, South Carolina. I had to cancel an in person workshop I was leading, so I am moving it online and inviting another leader to join me, he says. A comedian friend and I are going to start a daily Trivia game on Instagram Live to entertain people and give people a chance to feel connected and intertwined with others while quarantined. Dont be afraid, says Shifman, to use this time to get creative because were all experimenting trying to find ways to continue our work and connect with others!

34. Make some 5-year plans: During this time of hunkering inside, Kathryn Ely, an associate licensed counselor, coach, and podcaster, suggests getting together with your partner and talking about the future. Create a one, five, and 10 year plan, she says, adding that hoping and dreaming for the future will keep you from getting too caught up in what is going on right now and will help you remember this too shall pass.

35. Go to the movies together: Select a film to stream and set up your own little watch party on social media. Invite friends and tweet comments about shows as you are watching them, suggests Dr. Richelle Whittaker, an educational psychologist, mental health therapistin Houston, Texas. Or just hop on the phone, Skype, or FaceTime with others as you are movies.Its connection through a different medium, she says.

36. Netflix and chill together: Theres a Google Chrome extension that allows you to watch Netflix with other people by using your own personal invite link, says Lindsay Musgrove, a certified peer specialist in Houston, Texas. To do this, she says, you need Google Chrome, and the Netflix Party extension through the Google Chrome store within the same browser. Install it, and you are able to watch Netflix with someone long distance, as well as having a dedicated personal chat room with them. It may seem like they are far away, but that doesnt mean you cant Netflix and Chill apart.

Related: All the TV Series and Movies You Need to Binge Watch on Netflix Before They Leave

37. Share your skills with the world virtually: Jessica Meyrowitz is helping others learn to knit, and relax, via her newly created virtual Yummy Mindful Knitting I provide group workshops via video conferencing, she says, noting that this allows participants to be socially distant and still be connected. I instruct participants each step of the way and they are able to socialize with the other video conference attendees, she says.

38. Make some time for play: Danielle Maack, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist with Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Delta Autumn Counseling, challenges those staying at home to engage their partner or family (or via video conferencing if quarantined alone) to get in touch with their artistic sides. Give yourself permission to try out that new recipe, make some playdough and create a priceless sculpture. Bring out that guitar you bought last year and swore you would play and actually play. Sing together! she says. Being actively creative, adds Maack, can help to slow down daily pressures, open a door to experimenting, offer opportunities to connect with others about new experiences, and provide you an excuse to play, even in difficult times.

Celebrity interviews, recipes and health tips delivered to yourinbox.

39. Start a garden with your family: Gardening is a great way to bond, and its also been shown to decrease anxiety, explains Viktor Sander, a counselor at. SocialPro, in Gothenburg, Sweden. He suggests getting your family together and asking everyone what they want to growit could be something edible, beautiful, or fun. Order the seeds online. This, he says, gives you all a common purpose, a sense of personal pride, and makes you a stronger family.

40. Share Coping Strategies with Social Network: Maggie Lee Baker, a small business owner of Magali Designs decided to host a weekly Zoom call with her Facebook network.This is a bit of a social experiment to see who of my Facebook network of 773 friends would reply to my post asking for a virtual Zoom call to discuss how we are all coping with the current reality, she says. Topics such as working from home, recipe swapping, keeping kids busy and not crawling up the walls, and how people are tackling care of their mental health are all on the table, Lee Baker says. What we wont be discussing are topics such as politics, Covid-19 symptoms, scary statistics or anything else that we can find in the news.I want to keep uplifting, constructive and personal, she explains. The first session is scheduled for Thursday and will, per Lee Baker, include people from all walks of her life from old co-workers, to childhood friends to family in California, North Carolina and Hawaii.I will end the call asking each person to commit to one small act of kindness in the coming week to report back on.

Next,7 things to do if you run out of toilet paper.

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40 Ways to Stay Social During the Coronavirus Quarantine How to Stay Connected When Social Distancing - Parade

There are few people in this world who inspire change like Michelle Obama. Whether shes dishing out relationship advice or weighing in on climate change (your move, Melania,) every time she opens her mouth, magic slips out. Case in point: her latest Insta post, which is all about how to show up for your community and yourself - amid the current COVID-19 crisis.

WATCH:5 reasons we love Michelle Obama...

These past few weeks have been scary and difficult for many of us, she writes. We just dont have a roadmap for what were currently experiencingthat in and of itself can bring up feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and fear. Not to mention the worry we feel about the health and safety of our parents, children, and loved ones and the financial security of so many families.

She continues: Whatever youre going through right now, I want you to know you arent alone.

RELATED:How To Manage Anxiety Around Coronavirus

Even through the logistics of social distancing (1.5m at all times, folks), Michelle stresses this new normal is something were all navigating together.

As for me, I know when Im feeling overwhelmed that picking up the phone and calling one of my girlfriends can work wonders, she says. I also know staying close to my community helps me to feel connected and strong. If youre not sure what that looks like these days, Ive offered a few suggestions to get you started. But this is by no means an exhaustive list!

Her parting words of wisdom? Dont forget: Its okay to take a breath.

Be gentle with yourself. Log off when you need to, take a break if you can, and let others know when youd like a little help.

Without further ado, here are FLOTUS top tips for supporting local in this time of need:

RELATED:Michelle Obama Just Shared The Most Profound Relationship Advice

More here:
Michelle Obama Has The BEST Advice For Coping With Coronavirus Anxiety - Women's Health

As part of National Nutrition Month, Wednesday is celebrated as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are the most valuable and credible source of scientific-based food and nutrition information. The academy is the worlds largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, with more than 100,000 credentialed practitioners.

As the nations food and nutrition experts, RDNs are committed to improving the health of individuals, organizations and communities. They translate the science of nutrition into daily approaches for healthy eating.

RDNs have degrees in nutrition, dietetics, public health or a related field from accredited colleges and universities. In addition, the individual must complete a dietetic internship that is approved by the academy and pass a national examination.

Once they have obtained national credentials, they are required to stay up to date with the ever changing science of nutrition with continuing education. Many states have licensure for nutritionists. State licensure and national registration help to protect the public from misinformation and unsound nutrition advice offered by nonlicensed professionals.

An advantage of being an RDN is that you can move through different workplace settings throughout your career. In my 30-year career, I have worked in clinical, public health, senior living, higher education, private practice, media and research. I

n my current position as extension educator, I am able to incorporate several different experiences from teaching, providing food demonstrations, advising dietetic interns, working with media, working with schools, and participating in research projects. There are a variety of workplace settings for RDNs including hospitals, medical centers, schools, supermarkets, private businesses, fitness centers, food industry, universities and private practice.

The majority of registered dietitian nutritionists work in the treatment and prevention of disease. It varies from providing medical nutrition therapy as a member of the health care team in the medical setting to teaching, monitoring and advising the public on promoting healthy lifestyles in community and public health settings. You may also find them in schools providing education for teachers and students, creating and revising wellness policies and helping to create healthy menus.

Some RDNs also have degrees in exercise science or culinary arts, which complements their dietetic expertise. Organizations recognize the value of employing RDNs, such as professional sports teams employing a sports nutritionist and supermarkets employing dietitians to provide in-store nutrition counseling, lead store tours and answer customers dietary questions.

Integrative and functional medicine is an expanded approach to health, centering on a holistic approach to wellness. Many RDNs work with this integrative medicine model focusing on whole foods, recognizing the connection between the mind and body, and providing a personalized approach to nutrition, health and healing.

Regardless of the workplace, RDNs use their expertise to help individuals make positive lifestyle changes to improve their quality of life. If you are looking for a dietitian for personalized nutrition information, go to http://www.eatright.org/find-an-expert.

Lisa McCoy is a family and consumer-sciences educator with University of Maryland Extension in Washington County.

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What is a registered dietitian? - Herald-Mail Media

I got a good crew, but today I just feel off, Justin Bieber says as he films a music video in Episode 9 of his YouTube docuseries, Seasons.

He drops to the ground, rubbing his hands through his hair. He circles his cheeks and forehead with his palms, like hes washing his face without any water. Hes physically struggling to get out of his own head.

Its a feeling Im very familiar with. The Biebs and I both struggle with mental-health issues. His difficulties are on full display in Seasons, which follows the 25-year-old megastar through the making of his new album Changes and shows his often-rough road to recovery from drug addiction.

A key player in Biebers mental reset is Buzz Mingin, a local health coach and behavioral specialist with a celebrity following. He helps clients struggling with mental illness, brain injury and concentration issues, and remembers Bieber being in bad shape when they first met.

He really wasnt functioning, says Mingin, 51, in the docuseries. His cortisol levels the bodys so-called stress hormone were through the roof.

Mingin, who has a Ph.D. in psychology but is not a medical doctor, works with the Amen Clinics, a national chain that specializes in brain-focused integrative medicine. Full workups by Amen Clinics which can include talk therapy, oxygen chamber sessions and brain tests called SPECT imaging scans cost about $4,000 and are not covered by insurance.

Its practices have come under fire in the past: In 2012, the Washington Post expressed skepticism about the reliability of the SPECT imaging, Amens high cost of care and its expensive supplements. A representative from the clinic rebukes these claims in a statement to The Post: SPECT imaging, they say, is based on reliable science, supplements can be better than toxic psychiatric medications and getting healthy isnt expensive when you compare it to the cost of being sick.

At any rate, Mingins techniques seemed to be working for Bieber. So I went to see if he could help me calm down too.

In the Amen Clinics Midtown office, Mingin explains the method to his madness. In a thick Jersey accent, he tells me that he functions as a combination therapist, neurologist and wellness guru.

The first order of business is getting his patients on a strict schedule. We want [to create] a predictable environment to avoid extraneous stress, he tells The Post. That means sleeping, eating and exercising at the same time every day.

When stressors do crop up, he recommends havening, a relatively new psychosensory technique that has panicky patients stroke their arms, face or hands (patients choice) with their fingers until they feel calm. According to Mingin, fingertip stroking increases the production of feel-good chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and dopamine, to combat stress.

Thats what Bieber is doing during his music video freakout, when he runs his hands all over his head and face. When hes done, he gets back up and back to work.

Sitting across from Mingin, I tell him Im ready to try it.

First, Mingin asks me to focus on a stressor in my life. Thats easy: coronavirus. Its spreading fast. All I can think of is a totally apocalyptic, worst-case scenario.

We come up with a mantra: Im not elderly. I dont have an underlying health problem. I wash my hands. Im going to stay alive.

Mingin instructs me to use my fingertips and palms to slowly stroke my face, upper arms or hands while breathing slowly and counting the breaths: For 30 seconds, close the eyes, inhale through the nose for three seconds and exhale for five seconds.

You want it to feel kind and soft, he says. Were calibrating your thinking and the [brain] chemicals to work together.

I close my eyes and focus on the texture of my finger pads, trying to match my breath to the motion, like a low-exertion yoga class.

While I haven, Mingin chants our mantra. I focus on taking long breaths. After 30 seconds, I open my eyes.

Stefano Giovannini

Stefano Giovannini

Stefano Giovannini

Stefano Giovannini

Stefano Giovannini

Im still scared of coronavirus. But my breathing is slower. My shoulders are lower. Im a little calmer.

With a daily stressor tackled, we turn to something heavier. Mingin asks me to think of a time I felt inescapable fear. My mind turns to a serious health scare that sent me to the ER.

Eyes closed, I bring myself back to that night where I was, how it felt, who I saw. Mingin had me take three quick, forceful inhales, like lifting weights, to bump up my heart rate and stress level. It works: Im in freakout mode.

Then, havening. As I stroke my palms and take deep breaths, Mingin prompts me to think of something joyful. My heart rate slows. I feel Zen. He tells me to open my eyes and, without moving my head, look to the right and then left 10 times. Doing so, Mingin says, helps to retrain my brain to associate terrible memories with a good feeling instead of a bad one.

Havening absolutely made me feel more chill. It forced me to check out and think happy thoughts and just be in the moment.

Am I ready to ditch my antidepressants? No. But if you see me or Justin rubbing our hands and taking a deep breath, know that we just need a minute to relax.

Read more from the original source:
Justin Bieber's wellness guru tried to cure my anxiety - New York Post

Three Michigan Medicine-led projects have advanced to the second round of STAT News annual STAT Madness competition a bracket-style tournament to find the best innovations in science and medicine

In this #Breakthru32 round, the U-M teams are up against Stony Brook University, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Notre Dame University.

Our teams are asking for your support to advance to the Sweet 16 round and ultimately to the finals.

Below are descriptions of the U-M projects and links to vote for them directly.

Pancreatic cancer treatment resistance:A team led by Costas Lyssiotis, Ph.D. in the Rogel Cancer Center and Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, made the bracket for a study that shows why pancreatic cancer cells stubbornly resist treatment with a common chemotherapy drug. It could pave the way to better treatment options.

Vote: michmed.org/PanCan32

Liquid biopsy technology:A joint Engineering/Rogel Cancer Center team led by Eusik Yoon, Ph.D. with former Rogel director Max Wicha, M.D., is in the competition for their work to develop a way to separate cancer cells out of blood samples taken from patients, so they can be tested for genetic signatures that could guide treatment.Vote for this entry here.Read more about the work, published in Nature Communications, here.

Vote: michmed.org/LiquidBiopsy32

Effects of intense stress on DNA:A team led by Srijan Sen, M.D., Ph.D., of the Depression Center, Department of Psychiatry and Michigan Neuroscience Institute, showed that new doctors DNA ages six times faster than normal during their first year of residency, thanks to the intense stress of their training. The research, published in Biological Psychiatry, has implications for understanding vulnerability to depression;vote for this entry hereandread more about it here.

Vote: michmed.org/DNAStress32

You can also view the entire bracket of the 32 remaining teams from across the country, each selected for a piece of important research they published in 2019. Anyone can vote for a winner in each matchup in the bracket, multiple times a day. Voting to enter the Sweet 16 round ends Saturday at 11:59 p.m.

The field of competitors will narrow week by week until the final two teams are standing right at the end of basketballs March Madness in early April.

A Michigan Medicine team studying tinnitus took home the top prize last year. Help us bring the title back to Michigan for a second year in a row.

Another Michigan Medicine team also made it to the Round of 8 in STAT Madness 2018 with an entry focused onantibiotic-resistant microbes in nursing homes. In the first year of the tournament, U-M researchers who study themicrobes that inhabit human lungsmade it to the final round.

Go here to read the rest:
UM science teams need public's help to advance to the Sweet 16 round of the STAT Madness tournament - University of Michigan Health System News

Uday Jani, MD will present an immune-boosting, spirit-lifting approach to dealing with coronavirus at free community presentations 4 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, at Lewes Public Library, and 5:30 to 7 p.m., Friday, March 13, at Milton Library.

Bombarded by alarming statistics and dire warnings on a daily basis, its challenging for people to know what to believe about the coronavirus. Get the facts at Janis presentations this week at Lewes and Milton libraries, where hell address the issues candidly, factually and most important, hopefully.

Theres a great deal of misinformation surrounding this right now, and when people have sniffles, they fear the worst, he says. But the fact is that if you have not traveled to an affected area or been in close contact with someone who has, theres very little chance youll get the coronavirus.

Additionally, there are a number of proactive steps people can take to lessen their personal risk of becoming ill, according to Jani, a leading local internist and integrative medicine specialist.

Boosting your immune system helps you resist not just the coronavirus, but the flu and other respiratory infections prevalent at this time of year, he says. Basic measures, including eating healthy, sleeping well, managing stress, and using certain herbs and supplements, are enormously beneficial to maintaining overall health.

Denise Demback, local practitioner and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, will join Jani to present an update on Chinese herbs and supplements being used to effectively enhance the immune system and help fight COVID-19. These include astragalus, elderberry, vitamin D3, mushrooms and garlic.

Natural ways to build up your immunity provide an alternative approach to prevention, says Jani. There is no vaccine yet available for COVID-19, so the best way to prevent illness is to try and stay healthy, as well as take everyday practical actions to stop the spread of germs.

CDCs recommendations include:

Get a flu shot if you havent already done so. Wash hands with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Jani will also cover the most frequently asked questions and concerns hes hearing from patient and members of the community - travel safety, what to do if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, how to assess personal risk, where to find accurate updates on community spread, and why a positive mental attitude is essential to prevention.

If youre continually worried and stressed about catching the virus, that in itself can negatively impact your immune system, he explains. But if you do everything you can to stay healthy, trust that your body will have the power to help fight the virus. Right now, that may be the best prescription anyone can write.

Dr. Uday Jani is in private practice at Shore View Personal Care in Milton, where he blends the best of traditional, integrative and functional medicine. A board-certified Internist, Dr. Jani believes in treating the whole person - not just the disease - utilizing an evidence-based integrative approach. He completed an Integrative Medicine fellowship at the University of Arizona and training at the Institute for Functional Medicine. For more information, call 302-684-0990 or go to http://www.udayjanimd.com.

Continue reading here:
Keep calm and healthy during coronavirus outbreak - CapeGazette.com

AUSTIN, Texas Texans who are college-educated, live in suburban or urban areas, have higher median incomes and are ethnically white are less likely to vaccinate their children, according to analysis by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. The findings could help public health officials identify pockets of low vaccination rates where communities within the state are at higher risk for an outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.

In a paper published today in the journal PLoS Medicine, professor of integrative biology Lauren Ancel Meyers, a computational epidemiologist, and her team at UT Austin compared publicly available census data with the number of conscientious vaccination exemptions from public, private and charter school systems across Texas. The state is one of 15 to allow families who cite a philosophical objection to vaccines to opt out of immunizations for their children that are otherwise required for enrolling in school. A total of 45 states and Washington, D.C., allow religious objections to immunizations.

The study not only provides a window into local vaccination patterns throughout Texas, but also allows us to make predictions, Meyers said. If you dont have data on the vaccination rate for a given community, you can use demographic factors to predict outbreak risks for vaccine-preventable diseases.

Researchers consider vaccination exemption rates of 3% or higher in a school or school district to be the threshold for high risk of an outbreak of vaccine-preventable illness. A growing number of schools exceed that threshold in Texas. Between the 2012-2013 school year and the 2017-2018 school year, the percentage of school districts reporting high-risk levels of exemptions doubled in public school districts across the state, rising from 3% to 6%. High-risk private schools increased from 20% to 26%, and charter schools increased from 17% to 22%.

The study examined the top 10 metropolitan areas in Texas, including rural, suburban and urban communities within each area. Suburban and higher-income urban communities were more likely to have high vaccination exemption rates than rural counties, the study found. Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston were the cities with the highest risk of vaccine opt-outs. Areas with higher percentages of young children, ethnically white people and people with a bachelors degree were more likely to have higher vaccination exemption rates.

On the flip side, researchers found that counties with lower median income and a higher percentage of people who spoke a non-English language at home were more likely to have a lower vaccine opt-out rate.

We wanted to identify potential pockets of hidden risk throughout Texas stemming from declining childhood vaccination rates, Meyers said.

To do this, Meyers and colleagues took a more detailed look at the data. Prior studies looked at average exemption rates within counties and concluded that most Texas counties did not cross the 3% exemption rate. By instead tracking the number of individual schools and districts above this threshold, the team identified unseen pockets of risk. Travis County, for instance, has a 2.3% conscientious exemption rate across all grade levels, according to the Department of State Health Services. But using her more fine-tuned model, Meyers was able to predict pockets within Travis County where the vaccination exemption rate in schools with grades K-8 was higher than 3%.

This study allows us to detect potential hot spots at a finer geographic scale, she said. The increasing numbers of exemptions are already alarming. In addition, the clustering of unvaccinated children in tight communities only amplifies the risk of an outbreak.

Similar studies have been performed in other states, such as California. Meyers study was the first to look at Texas, which is considered a high-risk state for an outbreak of vaccine-preventable illness, at such a granular level. Meyers and her team estimate that 5% of public schools in metropolitan areas of Texas, 28% of private schools and 22% of charter schools are at risk for an outbreak.

The study did not offer any clues about why some demographic groups are opting out of vaccinating their children at such a high rate.

Undergraduate Maike Morrison, a member of the Deans Scholars Honors program at The University of Texas at Austin, and Lauren A. Castro of Los Alamos National Laboratory co-authored the paper. Meyers holds the Denton A. Cooley Centennial Professorship in Zoology at The University of Texas at Austin.

The researchers were supported by the National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) Program and the National Institutes of Health Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study Grant.

Read the original post:
Demographics Linked to Choice Not to Vaccinate Children in Texas, Study Finds - UT News | The University of Texas at Austin

Better Than Ezra, Riverboat City of New Orleans and Port Orleans raise funds for alternative medical treatments

NEW ORLEANS (press release) The Riverfront Experience: 16th Annual Ezra Open presented by Better Than Ezra Foundation, the Riverboat City of New Orleans and Port Orleans Brewing Company benefitting the Better Than Ezra Foundation and their goal to raise money for alternative medicine through music therapy not covered by insurance.

This event is a culmination of what New Orleans is known formusic, food, beer, and good times, while raising money for a great cause, said Kevin Griffin, BTE lead singer and co-founder of the BTE Foundation. Its important for us to recognize that there are people in our community struggling to pay for the medical treatments they need on their journey to wellness. This event will specifically support those patients utilizing integrative oncology through music therapy.

The night of live music, craft beer, and food on the New Orleans Riverfront is the only scheduled New Orleans performance in 2020 by the platinum rock band Better Than Ezra (BTE). They will be joined by the boisterous blend of funk, jazz, rock, and hip-hop of Big Sams Funky Nation and New Orleans own indie pop six-piece band Sweet Crude, who blends Louisiana-French and English into their work.

Im proud to be a part of this event and working with the Better Than Ezra Foundation, said Zach Strief, Port Orleans owner. This community comes together better than any other community Ive seen, always willing to lend a helping hand whenever its needed.

Early Bird General admission tickets are $15 each. VIP tickets, $200 each, include all-inclusive access to the Riverboat with VIP exclusive concert viewing from the boat, full bar, gourmet menu prepared by a celebrity chef, pit access to the stage, surprise celebrity DJ performance afterparty, exclusive performance by Big Sams Crescent City Connection, and access to silent auction. Ticket are available online here.

On-site valet parking and Park & Ride Limo Bus from Metairie and the Northshore will be available.

WHEN:Friday, April 36 11:30 p.m.

WHERE:Waldenberg Park & Bienville Street at the Capital One Pavilion1 Canal St.

WHO:Better Than Ezra Foundation, founded by platinum selling rock band Better Than Ezra, is committed to raising funds to support the renewal of the structural and cultural heritage as well as education in New Orleans and Southern Louisiana. Since its inception, the Better Than Ezra Foundation has raised over $1,700,000 for various causes in and around New Orleans.

Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANSPort Orleans Brewing CompanyBetter Than EzraBig Sams Funky NationSweet Crude

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Rocking The Riverfront - My New Orleans

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Director-General Shekhar C. Mande said in Mysuru on Monday that the Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), one of the CSIR labs, has started work on synthesising chemical formulations for the manufacture of drug for COVID-19.

Speaking to reporters after his lecture at the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) here, Dr. Mande, who is also secretary for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, said the scientists at the CSIR lab have taken up the challenge of developing the molecules towards discovering the drug.

Globally, researchers have shifted their focus on developing the drug and the national laboratories in the country have a collective role towards realising the urgency for the drug. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently reviewed the scientists efforts in this direction, he added.

D.r Mande said IICTs efforts will be to blend the chemicals that are needed in developing the drug.

He said a CSIR lab has obtained licence for developing cannabis-based drugs, particularly painkillers. The Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, had been working on the drug after the Centre approved the research using cannabis (marijuana), growing the plant for medical research.

Earlier, Dr Mande gave a lecture on the topic In science we trust where he touched upon contributions of modern science and the ancient Indias contribution to science and technology. We need to base our hypothesis with strong scientific evidence as the methods of modern science are time tested and trusted.

Field trials of pest-proof cotton variety soon: CSIR

In continuation of CSIRs farmer-centric approaches, a new pest-resistant cotton variety developed by a Lucknow-based research laboratory is ready for field trials which are expected to be done soon at Nagpur in Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, CSIR Director-General Shekhar C. Mande, who was in Mysuru, said the cotton crop usually faces the problem of pest attacks and scientists carried out a research for developing the pest-proof cotton variety.

The same variety will undergo further tests and trials before it is certified for commercial cultivation. The research has been carried out in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research.

Dr. Mande recalled the Samba rice variety (Samba Mashuri), which was developed jointly by the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, a CSIR lab, and the ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research. Today, this pest-resistant rice variety was grown in about 18 lakh hectares in many States, helping farmers fetch higher yields and higher returns.

Dr. Mande also spoke about the aroma and honey missions. The Khadi Village Industries Corporation (KVIC) has joined hands with CSIR for the Honey Mission. Honey is a good alternative to sugar since it contains medicinal properties. A MoU had been signed with KVIC, he said. The idea is to help farmers take up modern methods of beekeeping to improve honey yield and also get additional income.

He said a new programme would be launched by the DST from April 1 to promote basic sciences by setting aside a grant of 50 crore. It would help students come up with scientific ideas in an attempt to encourage them to pursue basic science.

On the Aroma Mission and the CSIR Floriculture programme, he said the Aroma and Phyto-Pharmaceutical Mission was intended to boost the cultivation of aromatic plants that have medicinal properties. This mission, taken by the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and medicinal plants such as lavender and others, will be promoted with the help of farmers in several States, including Karnataka.

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CSIR lab working on drug to combat COVID-19 - The Hindu

CHANDIGARH: Prevention is the best strategy to combat corona virus opined the experts of Allopath, Ayurved, Homeopathy, Naturopath, Dietetics, Public Health, Molecular Biology & Yoga at a round table conference organised on Sunday by Joshi Foundation on the topic 'Integrated / Multi Disciplinary approach to combat CORONA VIRUS'.

For prevention experts were unanimous on boosting immunity, maintaining high standards of personal hygiene, nutritious diet and yoga exercises focused on strengthening of lung functions, detailed Vineet Joshi, chairman, Joshi Foundation; city based cardiologist Dr HK Bali who chaired the conference and Editor, Integrative Medicine Case Reports Prof. Akshay Anand who co-chaired.

Prof Rajendra Prasad, former head of the department, Biochemistry, PGI Chandigarh, said that blocking the cellular entry pathway is the best way and for which research in the field of immunotherapeutics is at the advance stage.

Sharing his views on "Why & How Anti Viral drugs are not helping in treatment of Coronavirus", Dr. Indranil Banerjee, assistant professor, Biological Sciences, IISER Mohali said as Coronavirus keeps changing its structure, hence vaccine discovery is a big challenge. His published research shows individual's genome is partly responsible for virus infection. This again indicates the importance of immune response.

Prof Ashish Bhalla, Department of Internal Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh and Dr Vishal Bhambri, medical specialist informed that these viruses keep on surviving medication but need not worry as the death rate in coronavirus is pretty low. The only way to counter it is by exploring innovative methods to get back our immune system, may be by healthy lifestyle, healthy diet and specific yoga asanas. Giving utmost importance to personal hygiene by avoiding to touch MEN i.e. mouth, eyes and nose. They asked people to limit travel and avoid public gatherings as much as possible.

Ayurveda experts Vaidya Naresh Mittal, Gen. Secretary, Shri Dhanwantry Educational Society (Regd.), Chandigarh; Vaidya Ishwar Sardana, Vice President, Arogya Bharti, Punjab; Vaidya Rajeev Mehta, Ayurveda Medical Officer, Department of Ayurveda, Punjab; detailed that the only way to prevent coronavirus is by boosting the immunity through intake of Amla, Trifla and Giloy.

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Precaution and prevention best medicines to avoid Covid-19 - Times of India